Trying to figure out how to train a puppy not to bite and maybe also wondering when do puppies stop biting? This article has you covered. Together, we’ll be teaching your puppy bite inhibition and ensuring you go about it the right way so that you can save a lot of pain and frustration.

We’ll do that by guiding you through why puppies bite in the first place and whether nipping is the same as biting. We’ll then teach you how to stop a puppy from biting before covering when puppies stop biting, along with timelines for specific puppy ages. Keep reading to learn how to stop your puppy from biting once and for all!

How to Train a Puppy Not to Bite

Training a puppy not to bite is an essential part of their early education, ensuring they grow into well-behaved adult dogs. Puppy biting is a natural behavior used for exploring their environment, playing, and teething. However, it’s important to teach your puppy appropriate ways to use their mouth without biting humans.

Why Do Puppies Bite So Much?

Puppies bite so much due to their natural instinct to explore the world around them. During their early months, puppies go through a teething process which can cause discomfort and the urge to bite.

Additionally, biting is a part of how they interact with their siblings and learn about their boundaries. It’s a form of communication and play that needs to be properly directed.

Nipping Puppy: Same as Biting?

Nipping in puppies, which is a more gentle, playful form of biting, is not the same as aggressive biting but can still be problematic if not addressed. Nipping is often used by puppies to explore their environment and during play.

While it’s usually less intense than biting, nipping still requires training to ensure it doesn’t escalate into more harmful behavior.

How to Stop a Puppy From Biting

Stopping a puppy from biting involves consistent training and positive reinforcement. Here are some effective strategies:

1. Use toys as an alternative: Whenever your puppy begins to bite, redirect their attention to a chew toy. This teaches them what is appropriate to bite.
2. Teach bite inhibition: Let out a high-pitched yelp when your puppy bites too hard, mimicking the response of their littermates. This can teach them to moderate the force of their bite.
3. Ignore unwanted behavior: If redirecting doesn’t work, stand up and walk away to signal that biting will result in the end of playtime.

While puppy biting is a normal part of development, it’s important to guide your puppy towards understanding what is an acceptable form of play. Through patience, consistent training, and the use of appropriate techniques, you can train your puppy not to bite and ensure they become a sociable and friendly companion.

It’s important to remember, however, that any underlying behavioral issues (anxiety, overexcitement, aggression, etc.) that were causing all of this to begin with will still be present. And until you address those, any positive changes you see will only be temporary.

“Well, how do I make these changes last?”

By getting your dog to truly choose to follow your direction, that’s how. I tried many times to write out how you can do that before deciding it made more sense to just link you to the free video series that explains it better than I’d ever be able to.

The series is by a man named Dan who is one of the world’s leading dog obedience trainers. In it, he teaches you how to put an end to things like your puppy biting and all other misbehavior using his fast and easy-to-follow methods.

In the first video, Dan will reveal to you why the two most common methods of dog training only doom you to failure. You can watch the video now by clicking here. Follow the proven system he’ll show you in his series and you’ll never have to spend another second worrying about your puppy’s biting problem ever again!

When Do Puppies Stop Biting?

Puppies stop biting as they mature and learn appropriate behavior, typically around the age of 6 to 8 months. This process can vary depending on the puppy’s individual development, the consistency of training they receive, and their breed. Proper training and socialization are crucial for teaching puppies not to bite as they grow.

4 Month Old Puppy Aggressive Biting

At four months old, puppies are often in the midst of teething, which can lead to increased biting. This aggressive biting is usually a way to relieve the discomfort of their growing teeth. Providing appropriate chew toys and engaging in positive reinforcement training can help manage this behavior and teach your puppy more acceptable ways to express their discomfort.

You can learn specific ways to this type of training by going back to the first section now.

6 Month Old Puppy Aggressive Biting

By six months, while teething may begin to subside, some puppies continue to exhibit aggressive biting behaviors. This could be due to lack of training, seeking attention, or not having established clear boundaries.

Continued training, socialization, and ensuring your puppy has plenty of physical and mental stimulation can reduce unwanted biting.

9 Month Old Puppy Getting Aggressive

If a puppy is still showing signs of aggression, including biting, by nine months old, it may indicate issues beyond teething or playfulness. This could stem from fear, protection of resources, or lack of proper socialization earlier in life.

While it’s common for puppies to bite during their early months, especially due to teething, they typically grow out of this phase with proper training and socialization. Understanding the reasons behind biting at different stages of development and applying consistent, positive training techniques can help ensure your puppy matures into a well-behaved adult dog.

You’re probably ready to begin now that you have all of your questions about teaching your puppy bite inhibition answered, so I’ll let you get started on things. Good luck, and thanks for taking a look at our article “How to Train a Puppy Not to Bite! (+When Do Puppies Stop Biting?)”.